10 Gauge Double Interest

[White Oak]

I have been kicking around the idea of a 10 ga. double for quite some time. I don't really care if it is has the screw in chokes or is lightly choked. It appears to be a choice between Pedersoli and Navy Arms. I understand that Navy Arms was built by Pedersoli. For you guys that own either it appears that there are slight differences which could simply be when the guns were manufactured. I would prefer to find an older model as it seems that Pedersoli had some quality issues after the pandemic. I do like the looks of the waterfowl edition and from pictures I believe the lock plates screw on. Navy Arms appear to be pinned. I like the screws for ease of maintenance. Also not sure how much I would like the cheek piece on the Pedersolis . Is this the same stock that was used on their double rifles?
What say you guys? Equal guns? Happy with either? Just trying to get my ducks in a row incase the right one comes along. Until I will keep with my New Englander.
Thanks in advance,
Ed

 

[2 shots]

my navy 10 was built by pietta. have not gotten out with it yet. locks not pinned , one screw holds both locks and the head is under the hammer.has to be on full cock to remove screw.

 

[White Oak]

my navy 10 was built by pietta. have not gotten out with it yet. locks not pinned , one screw holds both locks and the head is under the hammer.has to be on full cock to remove screw.

Thanks 2 shots. Learned something already!

 

[Blackpowderart]

I have the pedersoli waterfowl and one with screw in chokes. The one with chokes is heavier in the barrels and you can feel the difference. The waterfowl has imp cyl and cyl there is also 10ga magnum it has mod and cyl. The cheek rest on the waterfowl is good. I love mine.

 

[White Oak]

I have the pedersoli waterfowl and one with screw in chokes. The one with chokes is heavier in the barrels and you can feel the difference. The waterfowl has imp cyl and cyl there is also 10ga magnum it has mod and cyl. The cheek rest on the waterfowl is good. I love mine.

Thanks for the info. Pretty much sounds as though any would do the job. I would not be apposed to more weight. When moving a 2oz. payload down the barrel, weight can be your friend. I did a search for the magnum hoping that it might be a bit heavier. Found them at Dixie at about the same weight. I hope the mods will bare with me here. Just for comparison I have a unmentionable Spanish made 10ga. double that was my goose gun until lead became illegal. It weighs in at about 13 lbs. Not something you wanted to carry in the field but had its place in the goose pit.
Appreciate your input!
Ed

 

[Blackpowderart]

Thanks for the info. Pretty much sounds as though any would do the job. I would not be apposed to more weight. When moving a 2oz. payload down the barrel, weight can be your friend. I did a search for the magnum hoping that it might be a bit heavier. Found them at Dixie at about the same weight. I hope the mods will bare with me here. Just for comparison I have a unmentionable Spanish made 10ga. double that was my goose gun until lead became illegal. It weighs in at about 13 lbs. Not something you wanted to carry in the field but had its place in the goose pit.
Appreciate your input!
Ed

The magnum and waterfowl only difference is the choke in the left barrel, mod vs imp
Cyl. The 10ga with chokes, that's the exact
Thing I thought....this would be perfect for a goose gun. I don't hunt geese , but i do hunt ducks and turkey. I plan on using the stock from my waterfowl with the choked barrels. I have a 12ga with chokes and that's my favorite all around gun. Easy to point and throws some amazing patterns with the mod chokes in it. Killed a few dove and ducks with it this season. Can't go wrong with pedersoli sxs in my opinion. I'm inlove with them and that's why I have 3....so far. I've only been muzzleloading since 2019

 

[Blackpowderart]

@White Oak Some of my harvested game

 

[White Oak]

Thanks for the choke information. I'll have to save that for future reference. Also great pics.
I realize the wads have to get past the chokes if the barrels are, but have you ever tried plastic shot cups. My understanding is that these Italian guns have undersize bores. Will a standard 10 Ga. shot cup fit in the cyl. bore? The reason I ask is that some of our waterfowl production areas also allow small game hunting. Pheasant, quail, dove. Non tox is required on these areas. I am not a steel fan for waterfowl but would use it for small game. I would prefer to use a cup with steel.
Hey, enjoy your 10 gauge collection. I am very jealous right now.
Take care,
Ed

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I have been kicking around the idea of a 10 ga. double for quite some time. I don't really care if it is has the screw in chokes or is lightly choked. It appears to be a choice between Pedersoli and Navy Arms. I understand that Navy Arms was built by Pedersoli. For you guys that own either it appears that there are slight differences which could simply be when the guns were manufactured. I would prefer to find an older model as it seems that Pedersoli had some quality issues after the pandemic. I do like the looks of the waterfowl edition and from pictures I believe the lock plates screw on. Navy Arms appear to be pinned. I like the screws for ease of maintenance. Also not sure how much I would like the cheek piece on the Pedersolis . Is this the same stock that was used on their double rifles?
What say you guys? Equal guns? Happy with either? Just trying to get my ducks in a row incase the right one comes along. Until I will keep with my New Englander.
Thanks in advance,
Ed

I have a Pietta 10 gauge…I wanted a 12 gauge but I couldn’t find one at the time. I bought it to hunt geese. But I have since discovered the incredible versatility of the muzzleloading smoothbore. I load can my 10 gauge with a stout charge and take geese all day. But I can drop a simple 1 oz load, and take it out to shoot clay pigeons or hunt doves and quail, with great effect.

The modern 10 gauge, is a heavy powerful waterfowl gun. The blackpowder 10 gauge is an amazingly versatile smoothbore. I still don’t have a 12 gauge, no real need, the 10 gauge meets all my needs…and then some.

 

[R Ellis]

Navy Arms guns were made by both Pietta and Pedersoli at times

 

[Blackpowderart]

@White Oak when I bought my new 10ga waterfowl I first used the 10ga plastic shot wads. That's the first thing I used and was extremely unimpressed. I believe the speed is too low for them to work properly, but they do fit like a glove. They aren't needed in a pedersoli. You can shoot steel with no cups. I personally shoot bismuth from rotometals for waterfowl and lead for everything else. If you only use the "over shot cards" you can load through a turkey choke with no problem. They curl just enough to get past and the ramrod brings them square again. That is all that is needed to shoot shot. 3 over the powder and 2 over the shot gives even patterns. Better them my comrads with modern 12ga 1500fps steel loads. VM Starr was a famous guy who wrote alot about muzzleloading shotguns along time ago and it's a good read if you look up some of his info. Simple cards are what he also recommended and it makes loading in the field simple. Just reach in your pouch and grab a few. When I am duck hunting I preload plastic tubes with pre measured shot and powder. Got them off amazon, 50pk for under $15. Makes it easy when ducks are only flying the first 2 hours. I also carry a couple when turkey hunting but haven't ever had to use them. When I am dove hunting I use a powder flask and shot
Pouch. I buy larger spouts than needed and once I find the load I want to use, I take a brake line cutting tool and cut it to the exact length needed for a specific charge. I measure the shot and dump it in with an antique adjustable dipper made by Bridgeport GI co. You can find them online for 20 to 45 bucks.

Patterning is part of the fun, so try anything you can think of... but don't overlook the simple cards. I've found stuff that gets close but nothing is as simple as os cards. In the end I had a bunch of crap i didn't need and don't have the room to keep it or a use for it. Especially if your using any choke.